SOUTH COVENTRY — Owen J. Roberts School District students, staff and community members got really energized about energy conservation on Wednesday at a “Flip the Switch” ceremony at the middle school.

During the ceremony, the district turned on the power to more than 2,200 solar panels recently mounted on the middle school and high school roofs. The event took place in a courtyard under cloudless skies, and a meter proved that the 525 kW solar voltaic array had immediately begun capturing solar energy.

Who flipped the ceremonial switch? None other than the OJR mascot, The Wildcat himself. But the actual switch, attached to high voltage machinery, was turned on nearby by an official from Johnson Controls, the company that installed the system.

The solar panels will now begin producing 30 percent of the energy needs of the high school and middle school campus, which also includes the administration building. But the solar array, while innovative and exciting, is not the only energy conservation measure the district has undertaken. In fact, the solar component is the centerpiece of a much larger, district-wide energy conservation initiative. The initiative has a strong educational component, with an Academy of Energy Education program that includes hands-on materials and other teaching tools for K-12 learning, provided by Johnson Controls as part of the project contract.

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In addition, the contract included a number of energy conservation measures, such as lighting modifications, mechanical upgrades and a string of building efficiency projects that have already been undertaken.

Altogether, the solar panels combined with the energy conservation measures, will result in an annual reduction in the district’s energy use equivalent to that produced by more than 200 homes, according to information provided by the district. What’s more, the district’s carbon footprint will be decreased by the equivalent of carbon sequestered in 537 acres of pine forest.

“The concept of going green has swept the globe,” said Superintendent Michael Christian, speaking to the audience—which included one student from every school—at the start of the ceremony.

But he warned that the term ‘going green’ is not always used by businesses that are having a positive environmental impact.

“The Board of school directors entered into this partnership (with Johnson Controls) not only to go green, but to really change the culture, and to produce savings for the taxpayers and the district,” he said. “We have students here from all the schools. This is where it all begins. We need to change habits and change the culture.”

The district paid $6.7 million for the entire project, including the solar panels and all other energy conservation measures. Nevertheless, the project will yield a substantial savings to taxpayers. Over 20 years, the district will experience a guaranteed savings of $11 million in energy costs. Subtracting the project costs, this amounts to a net savings of $4.2 million.

“This is a very net positive project,” said Phil Solomon, account executive for Johnson Controls. “The district is already seeing significant savings.”

The district realized about $200,000 in cost savings from energy measures implemented this summer, said district Chief Financial Officer Jaclyn Krumrine.

Solomon observed that the district’s energy conservation program is one of the largest contracted by Johnson Controls in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

“Not every school district has embraced a solar path,” he said. “Those districts that do are forward thinking districts that are looking at energy over the long term. When you think about what this district (OJR) is doing, it’s really innovative.”

Perhaps one of the most innovative aspects of the energy conservation plan is the educational component. Heidi Lehmann, the district’s supervisor of science and technology, is excited about the energy kits Johnson Controls provided to each of the schools.

The kits include books, lesson plans, posters and materials, such as mini solar panels. They enable students to build their own mini wind turbines and test them out.

“These kits are incredible. They give students hands-on experience on how a solar panel or a wind turbine works,” Lehmann explained.

They also include action challenges that encourage students to conserve energy at home and at school.

“This is more than just science,” said Lehmann. “It’s an everybody kind of thing. It’s good stewardship.”

About the Author

Laura Catalano is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in books, magazines and newspapers. She is a frequent contributer to The Mercury, for which she writes news, features and a monthly column. She lives in Pottstown and works for the Schuylkill River Heritage Area. Reach the author at LauraC802@aol.com
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